24 Kenyans suspected of participating in a large-scale credit card fraud plot worth over Kshs1 billion have been arrested by the INTERPOL. The operation involved both online and offline methods to steal and launder money, connecting local criminals to an international network.

The arrests are part of a broader crackdown on financial crimes in Kenya. Another recent case saw the freezing of over 2.3 billion shillings linked to a Laotian company suspected of money laundering and card fraud. These incidents highlights the increasing entanglement of financial fraud in Kenya and the urgent need for stronger regulations to protect the country’s financial system.

The arrests were a big endeavour of stopping cybercrime led by Interpol and AFRIPOL. The operation code named operation Serengeti, took place between September and October 2024. It was targeting cybercrime networks across 19 African countries. It aimed to destroy any schemes involving ransomware, online scamming and any form of digital extortion.

In Kenya, criminals tricked the bank system to steal money using special codes called SWIFT codes.The stolen money was sent to companies in the United Arab Emirates, Nigeria, China, and also to some businesses that deal with digital money.

“Through Serengeti, AFRIPOL has significantly enhanced support for law enforcement in African Union Member States. We’ve facilitated key arrests and deepened insights into cybercrime trends.” AFRIPOL’s Executive Director, Ambassador Jalel Chelba, highlighted.